Automatic damper.



E. JOHNSGAARD.

AUTOMATIC DAMPER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG,20. 19m.

Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

muwwto a attomwa Q/vi/hwoow E. JOHNSGAARD.

Patented No v. 30, 1915.

2 SHEETS-'SHEET 2.

awuzuto'z E. Jfaayaarc? EMIL JOHNSGAARI), 0F FAIRVIEW, MONTANA.

AUTOMATIC DAMPER.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

Application filed August 20, 1914. Serial No. 857,741.

To all whom, it may concern Be it known that I, EMIL JOHNSGAARD, citizen of the United States, residing at Fairview, in the county of Dawson and State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Dampers, of which the following is a speci fication.

This invention relates to automatic dampers and has as its object to provide a damper which will automatically control the draft through a stove or furnace flue and which may be adjusted so as to secure the desired regulation of draft, depending upon the weather and the character of the fuel being burned.

It is one aim of the invention to provide an automatic damper of the class mentioned so balanced that it will close or partly close automatically and to the" proper extent should there be a. suction created in the flue or chimney caused by strong wind or should there be a. sudden rush of heated air through the flue, so that there will be little or no loss of heat and. the heated air currents will be retained and caused to circulate below the damper.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a damper which will maintain an even draft and will regulate the heat regardless of the character of the fuel being used.

Another object of the invention is to provide a damper which will provide against overheating of the stove or furnace,

inthe flue of which .it is arranged, the damper" being so constructedthat upon a sudden rush of heated air currents up through the flue, it will close automatically and thereby cut off the draft. 7

Another aim of the invention is to so construct the damper that it may be adjusted to remain open or. closed, either as may be desired.

The invention also aims to provide means whereby the sensitiveness of the damper may be varied so that the same may be adapted to properly operate automatically in various kinds of weather and in accordance with other conditions.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective viewof the damper embodying the present invention arrangedwithin a flue. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the damper. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the controlling device for the damper. Fig. 4.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the accompanying drawings by the same reference characters.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates the flue in which the damper is mounted, the damper plate being indicated by the numeral 2. The stem of the damper is indicated at 3 and is fitted through portions 4 stamped up from the plate 2. Between the. portions 4;, the stem 3 of the damper is provided with an ofiset bend 5 and a lip 6 is struck up from the plate 2 and engages over the bend and serves to rigidly, connect the damper plate with its stem and for turning movement therewith. The stem is mounted through the sides of the flue 1 in the usual manner and in order to limit the upward swinging movement of the damper plate to closed position, the said plate is stamped up to form a stop 7 locatedopposite the slip 6 and is designed to engage against the inner side of the flue when the damper is in full closed position. 3

The regulating device for the damper is supported solely by one projecting end of the stem 3 and this device includes means for counterbalancing the damper plate and means for rendering the counterbalancing means more or less sensitive. The counterbalancing or controlling means includes an indicator arm and a weighted arm which are supported by the stem 3 and mounted thereon in a manner which will now be eX- plained. The indicator arm includes a flat sided head 8 which is fitted to the projecting end ofthe stem 3 and held against rotation with respect to the stem by means which will be presently explained. Extending from the head 8 is an arm 9 having an arrow point 10 which, together with the said arm 9, serves as a means for indicating the position of the damper within the fine, the arm being so arranged upon the stem3 as to oc- Fig. 7 is a cupy the same plane as the damper, and consequently, when the damper is in full closed position, the arm 9 will be horizontal and when the damper is in full open position, the arm will be vertical or substantially vertical. The weighted arm of the balancing or controlling means is indicated by the numeral 11, the weight carried thereby being indicated at 12. At the end opposite its end which supports the weight 12, the arm is provided with a flat sided segmental head 18 and this head is pivoted, as at 14-, to that face of the head 8 which is presented toward the flue. One edge of the head 13 indicated at 15, is located in the arc of a circle having as its center the pivot 14, and this edge, in the pivotal movement of the weighted arm, passes close to the stem of the damper. At one end of its edge 15, the head 13 is provided with a shoulder or lug 16 and at the other end of the edge with a shoulder or lug 17. When the arms 9 and 11 are in position to control the damper plate and indicate the position thereof, they are in alinement and the lug 17 rests against the under side 01": the stem of the damper plate. The purpose of the shoulder 16 will bepresently explained.

The structure above described comprises means for counterbalancing or controlling the damper plate, as before stated, and in connection with this means there is provided means for initially adjusting the position of the plate and which will now be des ibed. A disk 18 is fitted onto the projecting end and rests against that face of of the stem 0 the head 8 which is presented away from the line 1. This disk is provided at diametrically opposite points with outstanding bracket ears 19 having openings 20 which are in alinement. The disk is preferably formed from resilient metal and the openings 20 receive the stem 21 of a weight 22, this stem being adjustable through the openings so as to position the weight at dii ierent distances from the axis of the stem 3. If desired, the stem 21 may be provided with a series of numerals 23 and the disk may be stamped up at one side to form a pointer 24: with which the numerals may be brought into registration as the stem is adjusted in the openings 20. The disk 18 also preferably has stamped from it a pointer 25 which coiiperateswith indi ator scale marks 26 on the outer face of the head 8. That portion of the stem 3 upon which the head-8 is mounted is preferably square so that the head will be held against rotation with respect to the said stem and in order that the disk 18 may be held frictionally against the outer face of the head 8, a resilient tensioning disk 27 is fitted onto the end of the stem 3 and the said end of the stem is riveted or headed, as at 28, so as to firmly bind the disk 27 against the disk 18. It will now be apparent that the disk 18 may be angularly adjusted with relation to the head 8 and that the stem 21 of the weight 22 may be adjusted diametrically oi the axis of the stem 8. Assuming that it is desired to adjust the damper to half open position, and so that it will be extremely sensitive, the stem 21 is slid upwardly through the cars 19 until the pointer 24: registers with the lowermost one or one of the lower ones of the scale marks 23, and by grasping the stem or the weight 22-, the disk 18 is then rotated upon the stem 3 until the pointer 25 registers with the middle one of the scale marks 26. The device is then released and the damper will automatically assume the proper position. With the damper in this position and should a heavy wind arise and it is desired to render the damper less sensitive, the stem 21 is slid downwardly through the cars 19 until the pointer 24- registers with one of the upper ones of the series of numerals 23 which will, of course, position the weight 22 a greater distance from the axis of the stem Of course, the-extent to which the stem 21 is to be moved in an upward or downward direction to vary the sensitiveness of the controlling device will depend upon the weather and other conditions and but little experience will be required to permit one to properly adjust the stem. Furthermore, inasmuch as the device is exposed to view, the up and down swinging of the arm 9 will indicate to one the manner in which the damperplate is being acted upon'by the draft or suction force created within the flue, so that if the arm should repeatedly swing sharply in an upward direction, the stem 21 may be moveddownwardlyto cause the weight 22 to offer greater resistance to the turning movement of the stem 3.

Should it be desired to hold the damper in full closed position, this may be accomplished by rotating the disk 18 until the pointer 25 registers, for example, with the Zero mark of the scale 26, and with the parts in this position the arm 9 will be held substantially horizontal as will also the damper plate through the counterbalancing eiiect of the weight 12 and then the stem 21 may be adjusted so as to render the damper more or less sensitive or, in other words, to offer more or less resistance to the swinging movement of the damper toward open position. On the other hand, should it be desired to maintain the damper plate in full open position, the disk 18 is so swung that the pointer 25 will register with the opposite end of the scale 26, in which relative position of the parts, the arm 9 will lie substantially parallel to the arm 21, or, in other words, vertical, and the damper plate will occupy a corresponding position. Should the damper plate be in closed or partly closed position, and should it be desired to open the feed door of the stove or furnace, which, were it not for the peculiar mounting of the weight arm 11, would result in the quick closing of the damper plate, the said arm 11 is swung upon the pivot 1 1 so as to bring the lug 16 of the head 13 into engagement with the stem 3 of the damper plate. When the arm is so swung, the weight 12 will no longer counterbalance the damper plate but, on the other hand, will act to overbalance the same and hold the plate in full open position. Of course, when the feed door is again closed, the de vice may be rendered active by merely turning the arm 11 to its original position.

From the foregoing description of the invention, it will be seen that there is pro vided a damper controlling device which may be rendered more or less sensitive and which consequently may be adapted to control the damper according to the weather and other conditions and that the device is entirely automatic after having been once adjusted.

It will be observed that the stem of the damper is located considerably to one side of the center or axis of the damper and that the opposite sides of the damper are bent up as at 28 so as to permit of the damper dropping substantially to vertical position.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a damper regulator, counterbalancing means for the damper including elements, one fixed relative to the damper stem for indicating the position of the damper within a flue and the other swinginglv adjustable relative to thestem and shiftable independently of said first mentioned element to yieldably hold the damper in a predetermined position.

2. In a damper regulator, the combination with a flue having a damper stem extending therethrough, and a damper plate fixed at one side of its center to the stem, of a head fixed upon the damper stem, a Weighted arm pivoted to the head, and stops carried by said arm at its inner extremity and shiftable to engage the stem for limiting the pivotal movement of the arm, the

arm when at the limit of its pivotal movement in one direction being arranged to counterbalance the damper plate and yield ably hold it in a predetermined position of adjustment and when swung to the limit of its pivotal movement in the other direction being arranged to overbalance the damper plate.

3. In a damper regulator, counterbalancing means for the damper adjustable to yieldably hold the damper in a predetermined position, means adjustable around the axis of the stem to ofier variable resistance to the movement of the damper, yieldable means engaging said last mentioned means for holding it at adjustment, the said last mentioned means being bodily adjust able radially of the stem, and yieldable means for holding the said last mentioned means at radial adjustment.

Y a. In a damper regulator, the combination of a damper plate and its stem, of a weighted arm operatively connected to the stem and movable to engage the stem to counterbalance the damper plate, a weighted arm also mounted upon the stem and angularly adjustable with respect to the first-mentioned arm around the axis of said stem and radially of said aXis whereby the damper may be yieldably held in a determined normal position.

5. In a damper regulator, the combination with a damper plate and its stem, of a weighted arm mounted upon the stem and movable therewith and arranged to counterbalance the damper plate, a weighted arm also mounted upon the stem and angularly adjustable with respect to the first-mentioned arm whereby the damper may be yieldably held in a determined normal position, the second-mentioned arm being adj ustable radially of the axis of the stem to adjust the position of the weight carried thereby with respect to the said stem, whereby to adapt the weight to otter greater or less resistance to the yieldable movement of the damper plate.

'3. In a damper regulator, the combination with a damper plate and its stem, of a member mounted upon the stem, a weighted arm pivoted upon the said member and arranged when in one position to counterbalance the damper plate, a member also mounted upon the stem and angularly adjustable with respect to the first-mentioned member, a weighted arm carried by the second-mentioned member and movable therewith, adjustment of the second-1nentioned member and the second-mentioned weighted arm serving to vary the counterbalancing effect of the first-mentioned weight arm whereby the damper plate may be yieldably held in a determined normal position, the first-mentioned weighted arm, when in its other posiion of pivotal movement being arranged to overbalance the damper plate and the second-mentioned weighted arm.

7. In a damper regulator, the combination with a damper plate and its stem, of a member mounted upon the stem, a weighted arm pivoted upon the said member and arranged when in one position to counterbalance the damper plate, a member also mounted upon the stem and angularly adjustable with respect to the first-mentioned member, a weighted arm carried by the second-mentioned member and movable therewith, adjustment of the second-mentioned member and the second-mentioned weighted arm serving to vary the counterbalancing effect of the first-mentioned weighted arm whereby the damper plate may be yieldably held in a determined normal position, the firstmentioned weighted arm when in its other position of pivotal movement being arranged to overbalance the damper plate and the second-mentioned weighted arm, and means for holding the said members in frictional contact, whereby the secondmentioned member may be held in adjusted position with relation to the first-mentioned member.

8. In a damper regulator, the combination with a damper plate and its stem, of a member mounted upon the stem, a weighted arm pivoted upon the said member and arranged when in one position to counterbalance the damper plate, a member also mounted upon the stem and angularly adjustable with respect to the firstmentioned member, a weighted arm carried by the second-mentioned member and movable therewith, adjustment of the second-mentioned member and the second-mentioned weighted arm serving to vary the counterbalancing efiect of the first-mentioned weighted arm whereby the damper plate may be yieldably held in a determined normal position, the firstmentioned weighted arm, when in its other position of pivotal movement, being arranged to overbalance the damper plate and the second-mentionedweighted arm, the second-mentioned weighted arm bein adjustable with relation to the second-mentioned member whereby to offer greater or less resistance to the yieldable movement of the damper plate.

9. In a damper regulator, counterbalancing means for the damper, means adjustable around the axis of the damper stem to coact with said first mentioned means for holding the damper in a predetermined position, and means fixed upon the damper stem and having yieldable frictional engagement with said last mentioned means for holding the said last mentioned means at adjustment in frictional engagement with said first mentioned means.

10. In a damper regulator, counterbalancing means for the damper, means adjustable radially of the axis of the damper stem to coact with said first mentioned means for holding the damper in a predetermined po sition, and opposed yieldable arms fixed relative to the damper stem and having slidable frictional engagement with the said last mentioned means for holding said last mentioned means at adjustment.

11. In a damper regulator, counterbalancing means for the damper, means adjustable radially of the axis of the damper stem to coact with said first mentioned means for holding the damper in a predetermined position, and yieldable means normally engaging said last mentioned means for holding the said last mentioned means at adjustment, the said yieldable means being adjustable around the axis of said stem.

12. In a damper regulator, counterbalancing means for the damper, means adjustable radially of the axis of the damper stem to coact with said first mentioned means for holding the damper in a predetermined position, yieldable means supporting the said last mentioned means for holding the said last mentioned means at adjustment, the said yieldable means being adjustable around the axis of the stem, and yieldable means engaging said first mentioned yieldable means for holding the said first mentioned yieldable means at adjustment.

13. In a damper regulator, counterbalancing means for the damper including an indicator for designating the position of the damper within a flue, a disk mounted upon the damper stem and confronting said indicator, the said disk being adjustable around the axis of the stem, a weighted arm carried by said disk, and yieldable means carried by the stem for normally urging the disk into frictional engagement with the indicator.

14. In a damper regulator, counterbalancing means for the damper including an indicator adapted to designate the position of the damper within a flue, a disk mounted upon the damper stem and confronting said indicator, yieldable coacting ears formed on the disk, a weighted arm adjustable upon said ears radially of the axis of the damper stem to coact with said means for holding the damper in predetermined position, the disk being adjustable around the axis of the stem, and yieldable means normally urging the disk into frictional engagement with the indicator.

15. In a damper regulator, counterbalancing means for the damper including a head fixed upon the damper stem, a disk freely connected with said stem and confronting the head, coacting ears formed on the disk and supporting a weighted arm adjustable upon the ears radially of the axis of the stem to coact with said means for holding the damper in a predetermined position, and yieldable means normally urging the disk into frictional engagement with said head whereby the disk may be adjusted around the axis of said stem.

16. In a damper regulator, a head fixed upon the stem of the damper, a weighted arm swingingly connected to said head and cut away upon one side to provide stops adapted for engagement with the stem for limiting the arm in its swinging movement in opposite directions, the said weighted arm being adapted to counterbalance the damper, a disk freely mounted upon the stem and confronting said head, a weighted arm supported by said disk and adjustable thereon radially of the axis of the damper to coact with said first mentioned arm for holding the damper in a predetermined position, and a second disk carried by the stem and yieldably engaging said first mentioned disk for normally urging the said first mentioned disk into frictional engagement with the head whereby the said first mentioned disk may be adjusted around the axis of the stem.

17 In a damper regulator, counterbalancing means for the damper including a head fixed upon the damper stem, a disk freely connected to the stem and adjustable around the axis thereof, an indicator formed from with said means for holding the damper in a predetermined position, and a second indicator formed from the disk and adapted to coact with said arm.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EMIL J OHNSGAARD. [1 s] Witnesses:

G120. Fonss, A. F. BLODGET.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for fiire cents each, by addressing" the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

